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Let's Start a Club
 | By Dr. R.S. "Bart" Bartanowicz, Coins Magazine
May 07, 2008 |
Our numismatist and his friend were having coffee when his friend dropped the bombshell. "I meant to tell you, I was in the coin shop the other day and a couple of fellows came in asking about local coin clubs. I told them about the clubs in the area. They didn't like the idea of a 45-mile drive in each direction plus the cost of gas.
"They asked if there was any interest in starting a club in the immediate area. The dealer said that others had asked the same question. He said that he would start a list to see how many people are interested. I put my name down."
Our numismatist laughed at his friend. "Are you crazy? Your wife will kill you if she finds out your going to get involved in another club. You already belong to two local clubs. But don't let me stop you. Go home and tell your wife."
Laughing, he continued, "I'll check the newspaper tomorrow to see if she hit you with a rolling pin or the cast-iron frying pan!"
His friend pretended to be shocked. "OK. Maybe she won't be thrilled. On the other hand it would be nice to have a club within a few miles of the house."
Then, looking at our numismatist with a serious stare, he said, "If we both join we can get more people interested in the hobby and pass off all our splendiferous knowledge and insights. As for our wives, we can take them to dinner the night of the meeting. Then we'll leave them at one of our houses where they can engage in their favorite hobby - talking about our many faults."
Our numismatist scratched his head and said, "You're right. Everyone wins on this one. I'm in."
The above story represents an embarrassment of riches in that the dilemma is the prospect of our friends belonging to not two, but three local coin clubs. A lot of readers would like to have this kind of problem, as there are numerous parts of the country where there aren't many clubs at all. If you are in an area that is "numismatically challenged" as to having any clubs, perhaps it's time for you take the challenge.
Before you do this, check with the American Numismatic Association as well as local coin dealers and collectors to make sure that there isn't a club close by. If there isn't, the process isn't that hard.
If you have a collecting friend or interested family members, you're off to a good start. Let folks know you want to start a club. You can post notices in the library or other public gathering places. At the same time you can arrange for a free meeting room at the local library or other venues.
Once you get a few people together, you will usually find that ideas abound. You don't need to start out with a formal structure. You can let the club grow itself.
For instance, in addition to my coin clubs, I belong to a Civil War discussion group that has been in existence for two years. We still aren't formally organized. We have speakers, we discuss various topics and we don't even have dues. From all accounts, the group has been going well because it isn't organized. Imagine that!
If you want some ideas or assistance, you can contact the ANA and I'm sure that they will provide some advice including the name of a district delegate who can provide some help. Also, if you really feel compelled to have some structure, Robert's Rules of Order has been the standard for years.
And, why should you establish or join a club? Plain and simple, it's the interaction with other people including the sharing and education that makes the hobby fun.
There are folks who are content being the Lone Ranger (without Tonto) and who quietly put their collections together in a clandestine or secretive manner, but they miss out on an awful lot. It's a fact that we can all purchase our coins through the mail, online, over the phone from dealers without ever seeing anyone. And while I'm not a person who really needs or craves a lot of social interaction, I still get tremendous enjoyment belonging to a club.
So let's get together and start a coin club. Share those coins and stories.
You can be a teacher and a student. Plus, you can get ideas about what to collect in terms of interests and affordability. It does take work to start a club but the benefits will quickly outweigh the work and effort.
As for my chum and I, a third coin club that is closer to home is a real plus. The prospect of meeting new collectors is also a good thing.
By the way, we haven't told our spouses yet. We thought that we would give them a copy of this column. On second thought, maybe that's a bad idea.
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